HARD-NOSED

Giants sign 'no-nonsense' Rowand to 5-year deal

Published 4:00 am, Thursday, December 13, 2007

Photo: H. Rumph Jr, AP

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Philadelphia Phillies' Aaron Rowand answers questions from the press Monday, May 15, 2006, in Philadelphia. Rowand ran into the wall breaking his nose while making a catch on a hit by New York Mets' Xavier Nady on Thursday. less

Philadelphia Phillies' Aaron Rowand answers questions from the press Monday, May 15, 2006, in Philadelphia. Rowand ran into the wall breaking his nose while making a catch on a hit by New York Mets' Xavier Nady ... more

Photo: H. Rumph Jr, AP

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Philadlephia Phillies' Bobby Abreu, right, watches as teammate center fielder Aaron Rowand makes a catch against the wall of a drive by New York Mets' Xavier Nady in the first inning of their baseball game Thursday, May 11, 2006, in Philadelphia. Rowand was injured and left the game. (AP Photo/Miles Kennedy) less

Philadlephia Phillies' Bobby Abreu, right, watches as teammate center fielder Aaron Rowand makes a catch against the wall of a drive by New York Mets' Xavier Nady in the first inning of their baseball game ... more

Photo: MILES KENNEDY

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Philadelphia Phillies' Aaron Rowand answers questions from the press Monday, May 15, 2006, in Philadelphia. Rowand ran into the wall breaking his nose while making a catch on a hit by New York Mets' Xavier Nady on Thursday. (AP Photo/H. Rumph Jr.) EFE OUT less

Philadelphia Phillies' Aaron Rowand answers questions from the press Monday, May 15, 2006, in Philadelphia. Rowand ran into the wall breaking his nose while making a catch on a hit by New York Mets' Xavier Nady ... more

Photo: H. RUMPH JR

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Philadelphia Phillies' Aaron Rowand hits a three-run home run against the Chicago Cubs during the third inning of a baseball game Monday, July 30, 2007, in Chicago. Ryan Howard and Tadahito Iguchi scored on the home run. (AP Photo/Jerry Lai) less

Philadelphia Phillies' Aaron Rowand hits a three-run home run against the Chicago Cubs during the third inning of a baseball game Monday, July 30, 2007, in Chicago. Ryan Howard and Tadahito Iguchi scored on the ... more

Photo: Jerry Lai

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The Giants, in their first significant move to shape the team without Barry Bonds, signed free-agent center fielder Aaron Rowand to a five-year, $60 million contract Wednesday.

For that significant investment, in both years and dollars, the Giants have secured a fifth-place hitter, an All-Star, a Gold Glove center fielder and, equally important, a personable and emotional leader who will be asked to infuse the clubhouse with the "warrior mentality" that manager Bruce Bochy said it lacked last season.

"He's the type of guy who's going to hold everyone accountable to do the same thing he's doing, which is playing the game right and playing to win," Bochy said.

Sabean insisted he did not actively shop Cain or Lincecum and said, "We know the value of both individuals, believe me, and maybe more so after we've gone through this exercise. These might be the hottest two names in baseball."

Sabean might consider trading Jonathan Sanchez, other pitchers and his younger outfielders to fill remaining needs. The Giants want to add a first or third baseman with pop to bolster a middle of the order that now has Randy Winn batting third, Bengie Molina fourth and Rowand fifth. The Giants also need relievers.

Sabean said he will revisit free-agent third baseman Pedro Feliz and suggested he might proffer a two-year contract, but not three. The Giants are not talking to Detroit about available third baseman Brandon Inge, and St. Louis' Scott Rolen is not considered a high-priority target.

Dave Roberts will move to left field, with Nate Schierholtz, Rajai Davis and Fred Lewis destined to compete for backup roles if they are not traded. The Giants also could seek a taker for Roberts, although Sabean values his experience as a leadoff hitter.

Rowand, 30, was pursued by both of his former teams, the White Sox and Phillies, neither of which wanted to give him five years. The Phillies reportedly offered three years with a fourth-year option. One major-league source said Rowand had shorter-term offers that would have averaged more per season than the $12 million he will receive from the Giants.

Rowand chose the Giants after Bochy and Ron Schueler, the former White Sox GM who now works for Sabean, visited the outfielder at his Las Vegas home and pitched San Francisco.

The Giants will draw criticism in some quarters for giving Rowand a five-year deal, but that is the cost of doing business in a free-agent market lacking quality hitters, especially for a last-place team, and the cost of acquiring a potential impact hitter without surrendering Lincecum or Cain.

Sabean said that by signing Rowand the Giants furthered three offseason goals: getting younger, improving defensively and "adding a presence to our lineup."

"This guy is a tremendous all-around player," Sabean said. "His no-nonsense approach is known throughout the game, including inside the clubhouse."

Rowand, 30, used another term for his approach.

"No bull-," he said.

The right-handed hitter spent five years with the White Sox, playing 157 games for the World Series title team in 2005, and played 161 games in his second year spent with Philadelphia to help the Phillies win the National League East last season.

The career .286 hitter is coming off his best offensive season. He hit .309 with 27 homers, 89 RBIs and a .374 on-base percentage. He also won his first Gold Glove with a .995 fielding percentage.

Although his offensive numbers were inflated by playing a hitter-friendly Citizens Bank Park, he hit .299 with a .368 on-base percentage, 10 homers and 41 RBIs on the road.

Beyond the numbers, Rowand is known for his fearlessness in the outfield. In 2006, he crashed into the center-field fence in Philadelphia to make a catch, and held onto the ball despite breaking his nose and bones around his left eye. Rowand said he loves the reputation as a do-or-die competitor.

"It's one thing if you say, 'Hey, that guy's a great hitter,' or, 'Hey, that guy's a great outfielder,' " Rowand said. "It's another thing when a guy shows up to play every day and that guy plays hard every day and will do whatever it takes to win every day.

"Hopefully when I'm done playing this game, that's what I'll be remembered for. If that's the only thing I got remembered for, I'd be content with that for the rest of my days."

Bochy was frustrated last season with older players who reported for work with aches and pains and declared they could not play. The Giants view Rowand as the antidote. Rowand said he told Bochy during their meeting in Las Vegas, "One thing I can promise you, I'm going to show up every day and play. I'm not going to take days off. I'm going to play whether I'm bruised up or not."

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